Chapter 178: Shao Xiaoli's Eldest Returns

Ning Changjiu looked at the little girl, who was now a crying mess, and asked, "Where is this place?"

Shao Xiaoli recalled some stories about the Divine Spirits of Shiyuan. She looked up, her face streaked with tears, and pitifully said, "Divine Spirit Brother, please come to my house first. I'll brew you a pot of tea, and then I'll tell you everything slowly!"

Ning Changjiu felt no pity for the little girl's tears.

Behind them, the guards in black and white robes still watched menacingly, the ground a chaotic mess.

The star chart beneath Canxiang's feet was still shifting, vaguely outlining the shape of a unicorn pegasus.

Ning Changjiu shook his head and said, "I am not a divine spirit."

This statement shocked not only Shao Xiaoli but also everyone present. That souls are born in Shiyuan was an undeniable truth, just as a pen can write and a sword can kill. How could the revelation of that great god from a hundred years ago be false?

Only Shao Xiaoli believed he wasn't lying, because she knew her own bloodline all too well. But if he wasn't a divine spirit, then who was he?

Behind them, Canxiang's voice suddenly rang out sternly, "Shao Xiaoli, you are a child of the royal family and his master. Can it be that you cannot control him?"

Shao Xiaoli's heart trembled at Canxiang's voice, and she panicked again, saying, "Lord Canxiang, I... I'm sure I can..."

Shao Xiaoli immediately looked at him eagerly, stretching out her arm and waving it as she spoke, "Divine Spirit Big Brother, please calm down. You're so handsome, you must be a good person. Please form a contract with me first. Don't worry, even if we form a contract, you'll always be my big brother!"

Ning Changjiu calmly watched her, thinking, *You're setting a trap on the ground and then telling me you'll treat me well if I step into it?*

Junior Sister Xiaoling is much smarter than you.

Ning Changjiu ignored the disheartened bickering of the Sword Scripture Spirit and Blood Feather Lord, and stepped over the threshold of the great hall.

This great hall was the tallest building in Broken Realm City.

As soon as he stepped outside, his vision opened up.

The light in the sky wasn't very bright; a glowing orb hung high above, moving slowly, like a sun. There were no clouds, only a layer of hazy color. Looking down, beyond the nearby palace, distant buildings were covered with frost-like tiles, stretching endlessly. Further still, he could vaguely see city walls, watchtowers, and people draped in straw carrying iron tubes walking about. The most distant scenes were obscured by a thick fog.

This was different from what he had imagined.

This opulent palace seemed out of place in the city, more like the only glorious ruin preserved amidst a wasteland.

Columns of smoke rose in the distance.

Ning Changjiu recalled the "variants" they spoke of; these variants seemed to be spread outside the city walls, generations of enemies to them.

Was there still a place like this in Nanzhou?

Or perhaps this was still within the Abyss.

Shao Xiaoli watched him descend the steps, as if seeing the light of a divine miracle shining upon her, yet the light did not illuminate her, but passed through her body, moving further away without stopping.

She felt terrible, wanting to rush forward and grab him, but she couldn't muster the courage.

"Is he not a divine spirit?" Canxiang frowned.

This had never happened before, and of course, no one could provide an answer.

Surrounded by scattered debris, everyone simply watched as the worn white robe disappeared into the distance.

Since he hadn't continued to harm anyone, Canxiang didn't try to stop him.

He glanced at Shao Xiaoli, and said with disappointment, "Take her to the Ghost Prison first."

"Why?! I didn't lie, I summoned a divine spirit..."

Shao Xiaoli's eyes widened as she desperately argued, her heart filled with bitterness. But as the young man walked further away, her words seemed to lose all power.

Figures behind her pressed forward, held her shoulders, and silently forced her to her knees.

Shao Xiaoli couldn't understand. A miracle had clearly happened, so why was this still the outcome...?

She lowered her head, completely losing the courage to resist.

Divine spirits truly were merciless.

What she didn't know was that in the white-robed young man's ear, two voices were engaged in a wager.

"How many steps do you think Sir Ning will take before he stops? I bet no more than ten!"

"Hmph, even if we help this little girl, we absolutely mustn't do it immediately. We need to let her fall into despair first. I bet twenty steps!"

"Sir Ning wouldn't torment someone like that, would he? Then I'll say thirty steps!"

"Alright, bets placed!"

So, the two began counting Ning Changjiu's steps.

"One, two, three..."

"Six, seven, eight..."

Ning Changjiu sighed and stopped.

"That's it? You stopped already?" Blood Feather Lord sighed regretfully, saying meaningfully, "The more steps you take, the deeper that little girl's affections will be for you in the future. Do I need to explain this simple logic further?"

The Sword Scripture Spirit revealed the truth: "I think he simply doesn't want to leave any romantic attachments."

Blood Feather Lord sighed, "True, Sir Ning is kind-hearted; otherwise, I wouldn't have survived until now..."

Ning Changjiu thought to himself: *In my past travels, at least I had Zhao Xiang'er and Lu Jiajia accompanying me. This time, my luck has truly run out; I fell into the abyss with nothing but these two troublesome spirits.* The crying girl behind him also seemed to have a similar personality to these two. Ning Changjiu wasn't particularly interested in her, but he didn't have a habit of abandoning people in distress. However, if he saved her, the coming days would likely be quite tumultuous.

But as he walked down the steps, he suddenly remembered the scene when Jiuying carried him and plunged into the abyss.

He recalled Lu Jiajia's heartbroken sobs, that thorn forever lodged in his heart.

How similar was this scene?

He stopped, turned back, and said, "Let her go."

Shao Xiaoli looked up, and in her already red-rimmed eyes, the flowing white cloud had stopped for her.

Shao Xiaoli felt that everything that happened today was like a dream.

She watched the white-robed young man, who sat in the reclining chair like an old man, carefully peeling fruit without a sound.

Ning Changjiu had already bathed and changed clothes. He was now still in a white robe, exuding an ethereal air.

This robe was not a sword robe designed for easy movement like those of the Imperial Sword Sect, but rather closer to a Taoist robe. The furnishings in the room also had an antiquated feel, but were generally clean and bright, symbolizing status in this not-so-prosperous city.

Shao Xiaoli finished peeling the fruit, handed it to Ning Changjiu, and said earnestly, "Divine Spirit Brother, look, I peeled a heart shape for you."

Ning Changjiu closed his eyes to rest, ignoring her masterpiece, and said, "Eat it yourself."

Shao Xiaoli murmured, "Oh," and obediently put the fruit aside. She said, "I thought I was going to die today. Did a deity send you to save me?"

Ning Changjiu replied, "Just a coincidence."

Shao Xiaoli persisted, continuing to press him, "You're so powerful, even Lord Canxiang couldn't defeat you. You must have been amazing in your previous life, right?"

"Previous life? Why do you think I have a past life?" Ning Changjiu asked.

Shao Xiaoli was slightly taken aback and said, "That's something everyone knows... The books say that Shiyuan holds countless departed souls from the world. Of course, dead people have past lives. Don't you remember, Big Brother?"

Ning Changjiu recalled some things, but shook his head and said, "I don't remember."

Shao Xiaoli showed a hint of disappointment.

Ning Changjiu recalled a question and asked, "Your blood can open the door to that abyss?"

Shao Xiaoli said, "Yes! Every member of the royal family, when they turn seventeen, their spiritual power solidifies, and then they can go to the Shiyuan in the Divine Temple to summon spirits as servants!"

Ning Changjiu asked, "You call that abyss 'Shiyuan'?"

Shao Xiaoli nodded vigorously, explaining enthusiastically, "Yes! Although I don't know why, that's how it's been passed down by our elders. Every royal descendant can open the door deep within Shiyuan and summon divine spirits."

Ning Changjiu said, "Then why did you lie to them?"

Shao Xiaoli paused, feigning ignorance, "Me... What did I lie about?"

Ning Changjiu said, "You don't have royal blood. If I hadn't been here today, you would already be in the Ghost Prison."

Shao Xiaoli's cheeks flushed, and she pouted, "You can't blame me! Why shouldn't a commoner's daughter have the right to live? Besides, I'm just a tool for my mother to live in luxury. You know our city is so poor; it's not easy to have full meals every day."

Ning Changjiu asked, "What about later?"

Shao Xiaoli was startled, her face fallen, and she cried, "Divine Spirit Brother, you're not going to abandon me, are you...? If you leave, my secret will be exposed... and if it's exposed, they'll kill me. You saw how fierce they were today."

Ning Changjiu didn't want to waste words with her. He knew he would leave eventually and didn't wish to leave anything more behind here.

He sat quietly in the chair and said, "Tell me about this place."

Shao Xiaoli's spirits lifted again, and she quickly asked, "What do you want to hear?"

Ning Changjiu said, "Everything about Broken Realm City."

*Everything? What is everything?* Shao Xiaoli thought to herself. *These past years, I've either been cultivating or enjoying myself, and I haven't read any history books... But it doesn't matter, my benefactor is a stranger, and strangers... He probably wouldn't know if I just made something up.*

Shao Xiaoli began to speak eloquently, "This story goes back eight hundred years, to a night of swirling snow..."

Shao Xiaoli gave a rough account of Broken Realm City's history.

It was said that the people of Broken Realm City were originally a tribe struggling to survive in harsh, desolate lands. Due to various disasters, only about a hundred people remained in their city. Just as the crisis of extinction was imminent, a goddess descended from the heavens and led them from those barren mountains and treacherous waters to this empty city. There, they began to settle, gradually multiplying and growing, averting the crisis of annihilation. However, divine blessings usually came with a price, and their price was to resist the mutated life outside the city walls for generations.

And their king, at that time, had received the goddess's blessing, acquiring the supreme Royal Blood.

"What exactly is the inheritance of the Royal Blood?" Ning Changjiu asked.

"It means that every child of the king inherits the Royal Blood, but this inheritance is restricted. If too many children are born in a short period, it's highly likely they'll be born ordinary or even disabled. This is also the curse of the Royal Blood," Shao Xiaoli explained. "In short, those with Royal Blood not only possess divine power from birth but can also summon divine spirits from Shiyuan. I used to envy them greatly."

Ning Changjiu seemed to guess what she was about to say and didn't respond.

Shao Xiaoli waited for a moment, then declared confidently, "I don't envy them anymore! Most of the spirits they summon are just plain and mediocre, neither as handsome nor as powerful as you, Big Brother."

Ning Changjiu thought of Ning Xiaoling and sighed, "Don't call me 'Big Brother' anymore."

"Not 'Big Brother'?" Shao Xiaoli covered her mouth, thinking, *I can't call him 'Father,' and now I can't call him 'Big Brother.' This... this divine spirit looks to be around my age. Could it be that he's interested in me but is too shy to say? Yes, if he didn't like me, why would he save someone he's never met before?*

Pondering these thoughts, Shao Xiaoli sat upright, her expression serene. She gently tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear, her lips slightly pursed, and softly began, "Anyway, from now on, we'll be a pair, and this will be our home. So, I'll call you old..."

Ning Changjiu opened his eyes, turned his head, and stared at her coldly.

The girl felt a surge of killing intent, her words froze for a moment, then she said seriously, "Boss!"

"Your Majesty, Qingxue is dead."

In the imperial grand hall, a man dressed in royal robes gazed at the magnificent painting on the wall, his intoxicated expression filled with deep remembrance. Only when Canxiang spoke did he snap out of his reverie and slowly turn around.

"Qingxue?" The King pondered for a moment before remembering the woman with innate charm. The older one got, the more time one spent recalling past youth. In his life, besides the great achievements left by his conquests, it was also his duty to sire children to pass on the Royal Blood.

The lineage possessing Royal Blood was established from the very beginning. The more people who possessed Royal Blood, the more its divine power would be diluted. Therefore, only truly enchanting women would cause the King to disregard their status and leave them a seed of divine blood.

Qingxue was such a woman.

However, she was not of royal birth, and no matter how beautiful her appearance, after a long time, there would be a sense of commonness. So, over the years, he had almost forgotten her existence. But now, hearing of her death, a ripple of emotion still stirred within the King. He vaguely remembered that Qingxue also had a daughter.

"How did she die?" the King asked.

"She hanged herself," Canxiang replied.

The King frowned. Food and silk fabrics were not abundant in Broken Realm City; only the royal family had a continuous supply. He didn't understand why that woman would choose death over a life of pampered ease.

Canxiang continued, "Today was her daughter Shao Xiaoli's spirit-summoning day, upon reaching adulthood."

The King remained silent, and when he was silent, the atmosphere in the grand hall grew heavy. He was by no means a foolish man and quickly understood the hidden meaning in Canxiang's words. He sighed and said, "Dying by suicide was indeed letting her off easy."

Canxiang, however, said, "But Shao Xiaoli still summoned a spirit..."

"Hmm?"

"That spirit is somewhat special," Canxiang hesitated, "The God-Binding Array did not contain him."

"What did you say?" the King exclaimed, astonished. "That's the great array left by the goddess herself!"

Canxiang said, "I also find it incredible."

The King said, "And now? Where is he now?"

Canxiang replied, "He's at Shao Xiaoli's home. He's been quite peaceful; there's been no disturbance for several hours."

The King became completely silent. He turned back again, gazing at the magnificent, flowing mural on the wall. At the very top of the fresco, countless heads of Asura and Yaksha peered out from amidst thunderclouds. Below the thunderclouds, male and female immortals, holding ritual artifacts, floated gracefully upwards. The human realm depicted below was a hellish crucible of swords and fire.

After a long time, the King's gaze settled on a fierce ghost with a green face and fangs. He finally spoke again: "It is extremely difficult for Broken Realm City to have survived for centuries. We don't need divine spirits; what we need is a blade that can truly expand our territory and retrieve the Divine Master's head."

Canxiang remembered the white-robed young man and also felt uneasy. He said, "I understand."

Just as Canxiang was about to withdraw, a clear, gentle voice spoke, "Wait."

Canxiang stopped. Even he, whose status was nominally second only to one person, bowed slightly towards the darkness.

"Lord Siming." A woman with flowing silver hair emerged from the darkness. She wore soft black robes, and her serene, beautiful face appeared ageless, as if still in her prime. She looked at Canxiang and said, "I have received a divine revelation."

Ning Changjiu looked at the night sky.

The sky was pitch black, not a single ray of light visible.

"Where are the stars?" Ning Changjiu asked.

"Stars?" Shao Xiaoli asked, surprised. "You can see stars in books. The books say there are many twinkling, jewel-like things in the sky. Boss, have you seen stars?"

Ning Changjiu didn't answer, continuing to ask, "Is Broken Realm City the only city here?"

Shao Xiaoli nodded, "Initially, yes. In recent years, as we've been able to venture further and further outside the city, we've established some villages and towns as outposts to help us travel to even more distant places in the future."

Ning Changjiu asked, "What are the variants outside the city?"

Shao Xiaoli had once gone out to battle with the royal army. Remembering those eerie creatures, a chill still ran down her spine.

She replied, "They're just lots and lots of monsters. We don't know where they come from. They look somewhat like humans but have strange tails and crawl on the ground like insects."

"Are they powerful?"

"Not really. Even I can kill many of them, but there are simply too many. Not even the strongest warrior in the city could fight a hundred monsters alone," Shao Xiaoli lamented. "It's as if the divine spirits abandoned us after bringing us here."

"What is your cultivation realm now?"

"Realm?"

"Don't you all cultivate?"

"Yes, of course, we do." Shao Xiaoli said, "But there's no clear division in cultivation. We all practice unique cultivation methods. Most royal descendants only cultivate one book their entire lives, and each method has nine levels. Reaching the ninth level means you're the most powerful."

"Different cultivation methods?" Ning Changjiu asked, "What do you cultivate?"

Shao Xiaoli patted her chest proudly, "Everyone's cultivation method is personally chosen by the King. The one I practice is called 'Northern Darkness Divine Sword.' Doesn't that sound amazing?"

Ning Changjiu said, "Let me see your cultivation method."

Shao Xiaoli was startled and said, "This cultivation method is top secret. The King strictly forbids its circulation, this..."

She looked at Ning Changjiu's calm gaze and sighed, "Yes, Boss!"

Saying this, Shao Xiaoli pulled out the book from under a box and handed it to Ning Changjiu.

The booklet wasn't thick, and the cultivation method described within wasn't particularly profound. After a quick glance, the Sword Scripture Spirit inside him said, "This book seems incomplete."

Ning Changjiu nodded, a conjecture already forming in his mind.

He handed the booklet back to Shao Xiaoli.

"Boss, how is it?" Shao Xiaoli asked cautiously.

Ning Changjiu said, "It's acceptable."

Inside the Broken Sword, Blood Feather Lord had no interest in this 'Northern Darkness Divine Sword.' He had been observing the little girl and said, "This girl has good potential; she's just neglected her appearance. I've been by Her Highness's side for many years and know a lot about her makeup. How about I give you some pointers and make her look like Her Highness? That way, she'll be utterly obedient to you, and you can imagine Her Highness is obeying you. Then you can scold her, punish her, or do whatever else you desire..."

Ning Changjiu ignored him, saying, "By the way, among the variants outside your city, are there any birds or beasts?"

Shao Xiaoli didn't know why he was asking this. She said, "Yes, there are, but they're a bit ugly."

Ning Changjiu nodded and said, "Good. In a few days, I'd like to go outside the city to take a look."

Blood Feather Lord was startled and exclaimed, "What are you going to do?! Sir Ning, I was wrong... I can die, but I absolutely refuse to have an ugly body!"

Shao Xiaoli didn't ask further. She just blinked and said, "Boss, do you need anything else? Just tell me! Oh, and my mother's room is over there; I've already cleaned it for you. If you don't like it, we can switch rooms."

Even for the royal family in Broken Realm City, conditions weren't particularly good. Although they each had an independent residence, the quality of their homes was vastly inferior compared to the imperial relatives of Zhao.

Ning Changjiu said, "It's fine."

Seeing that Ning Changjiu had not yet eaten the fruit she had meticulously peeled, Shao Xiaoli continued talking while secretly reaching across the table with her index finger and thumb, picking up the fruit, and tucking it into her sleeve.

Ning Changjiu, meanwhile, silently gazed at the pitch-black night sky, pondering some matters, and occasionally asking questions.

"Does it rain here?"

"Rain?"

"Meaning water falling from the sky."

"Doesn't water always come from underground?"

"In your ancient texts, what's the earliest recorded time?"

"Uh... a thousand years? Two thousand... I'll check the books another day!"

"So, where have you planted your flags now?"

"They say we can already see an ice plain in the distance. We all believe that once we cross that ice plain, we'll find new land!"

Their conversation continued intermittently.

"Do you have any deities you worship or believe in?" Ning Changjiu asked his final question.

"I believe in you, Boss!" Shao Xiaoli said with utmost sincerity.

"..." Ning Changjiu did not continue to ask.

He closed his eyes to rest for a while. When he opened them, he found Shao Xiaoli still sitting by his side, gazing at him eagerly.

"Is there something else?" Ning Changjiu asked.

Shao Xiaoli spoke hesitantly, "Well... about forming a contract with a divine spirit, that's been a rule in Broken Realm City all along. I'm afraid they'll make things difficult."

Ning Changjiu said indifferently, "I will not put my life and death into anyone's hands."

Shao Xiaoli waved her hand, "No, no, that's not it. I just wanted to discuss with you, Boss, what if... from now on, we pretend we've formed a contract? Outside, I'll be the master, but at home, you'll be my boss, and I'll bring you tea, pour water, massage your shoulders, and obey your every command. Is that okay?"

Blood Feather Lord said, "That sounds a bit..."

The Sword Scripture Spirit interjected, "The books describe some women as being different in and out of bed. Your idea truly has a similar cleverness."

Ning Changjiu's expression remained unchanged as he continued to ask, "What exactly is a 'spirit'?"

Shao Xiaoli said, "A spirit, a spirit is like a sword or a blade. It can stay by your side at all times, connected to the master's thoughts and will. Even if it's shattered, it can reform. In short, it's a very powerful weapon!"

Ning Changjiu understood—this was a rather special type of acquired spirit, similar to Zhao Xiang'er's Nine Feathers.

Ning Changjiu said, "It will be exposed eventually."

Shao Xiaoli seemed to have thought about this seriously for a long time. She confidently said, "Don't worry, it won't! From now on, Boss, you just focus on killing monsters. Wherever you run, I'll pretend to be directing you! I guarantee I'll be quick-witted and eloquent, and won't let you lose face! Hmm... my request is very simple: when you're in front of others, just give me a little bit of face, pretend I'm the master or something..."

"Can we do that?"